4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Space Chick]

I left the newbies out to free-range, they were very tentative at first, took about 5 mins for Peri to pluck up the courage to leave the run, soon they were all pecking around the garden like they'd been doing it all their lives.

 

So next step was to let out the oldies. I decided that a distraction technique was the best starting point, so put a long row of meal worms down the path. This seemed to work as both sets of girls were eating the worms together like old friends.

 

Only after the meal worms were finished did we have a bit of a bother. Sarah-Jane as top chook seemed completely not bothered (Obviously shes in charge so no point even giving the new girls the time of day). Donna and Rose however had a few nasty pecks, but with a spray of water soon stopped. However, it passed mainly without incident which is great.

 

Got oldies back in with some grapes, then attempted to get newbies in. However, by this stage they were enjoying their new found freedom and did not want to return to their run It took about 10 mins for me and OH to get them back in, and there was even some rather impressive flying displays

 

I'm going to have to wing clip, but Sue from Wernlas said not to clip until they were 30 weeks as pure breeds are slower to develop. Did any of you wing clip pure breeds at 21-23 weeks?

 

Overall though a positive experience, so fingers crossed for full integration in the next month

Edited July 19, 2009 by Guest

[Falkor]

Hey Debs

 

glad to hear that it went reasonably smoothly!

 

I have clipped my cream leg bar 12 weeker as she is "bouncy" Seems to have had no adverse affect other than keeping her closer to the ground

[Space Chick]

Its my Cream Legbar I am most worried about, she is a lively one is Leela

[Space Chick]

Day 2 of combined free-ranging. Let newbies out first, and they all came tearing out the the run today. (I did wing clip them all once they were sleepy last night after the "flying incident")

 

After they had been out a while I let the oldies out. I did the row of mealworms again, and they ate together well again.

 

Today the attacks on the newbies were less nasty, it seemed to be a quick bok and chase and the newbies became aware of their place in the pecking order. Water pistol was only used twice so definite progress.

 

Newbies were also easier to round up and get back in the run today. Lets hope it continues to go this smoothly.

 

I still have my bumper bits and Genitian Violet spray on standby just incase.......!!

[Chickvic]

Sounds promising.

[Space Chick]

Its 34 days until the ex-batts arrive so I'm on a deadline

 

I'm hoping 14 more days of combined free-ranging and then I'll try a week of putting the newbies in the cube at night and combined free-ranging, so hopefully I can fully integrate in 3 weeks, 2 weeks before the ex batts arrive.

 

Well, thats the plan.......

[chick wiggle]

Sounds very good so far debs. Fingers crossed all goes according to plan. Its been 4 weeks since we got our newbies and they are still getting the odd peck (and sometimes quite a hard one too) from Blossom and Daisy who were at the bottom of the pecking order of the original 5. Dora, the head chook just doesnt seem to waste her time with them as they all should know that shes the boss without her having to do anything to prove it!

Good luck

[Space Chick]

Day 3

 

Oldies chased the newbies a lot today, and didn't let them get at the mealworms. No nasty pecking today but every time they were chased off the newbies would retreat to their run

 

At one point all 4 newbies were huddled in their house (not even in their larger run, but in their "bedroom")

 

Don't know if we took a step back today or whether this is the way its meant to pan out?

[legend21]

Hi DebsL cant wait until tomorrow for the next installment. OH now thinks he would like more girls to add to our clan, will watch with baited breath to see how you get along

 

regards

 

jackie

[Space Chick]

Day 4 - big chicken house (Imagine Big Brother voice here! Well technically its Day 11, Day 4 of integration time!)

 

It was too wet for free-ranging today, so I decided to open the inner dividing doors to allow them some time together.

 

I sat in for a while, and fed them some grapes, then gave some mixed corn to share.

 

There was a little chasing from the oldies but only 1 nasty peck by Donna (bottom chook oldies) to Peri (top chook newbies), no blood drawn thankfully, I think its just Donna determined to be above all the newbies in the pecking order.

 

They have been walking around the run OK together, so I have decided to leave them to it for a while. Interestingly, the newbies are spending their time in the oldies part of the run and the oldies are spending their time in the newbies bit

 

Rose, chased Peri, and Peri ran back to her flock. She must have had a word with her sisters though, as she nonchalantly walked back towards Rose, and when Rose chased her, all the newbies charged at Rose, who promptly turned around and scampered away back to her oldie sisters

 

Its certainly interesting to watch

[sjp]

i think your intros are going better than mine all i can say is i'm glad i'm not on a time limit

[Space Chick]

From reading your thread I think yours is going well SJP

[sjp]

it was then had to keep them apart sunday the last night as long as i had the squirty bottle in my hand the big girls were nice as soon as the saw i'd left it out of reach the had a go

but the lttle ones are accepting me more now stiil scared of ther saddow through

[clootie]

How was last nights experiment Debs? Did they go quietly?

[Space Chick]

They went to their own bedrooms, so I shut them up like that and closed the divide. I'm happy for them to take it at their own terms

 

No update from me tonight, as I am out, next thrilling instalment tomorrow

[clootie]

"The Great Divide" coming to a cinema near you !!

[Space Chick]

OK, we are definitely making progress. Today the girls have had a mammoth free range session together with no Issues at all. So I have decided to take the plunge and open the inner double doors overnight tonight

 

Lets hope that it'll be OK

 

They are sticking with their flocks though, not much mingling going on, but I suppose this is to be expected.

[Chickvic]

That's still good news Debs

[Space Chick]

So the first night of open double doors was a success, the newbies still went to their bedroom and not to the cube, but they are happily co-habiting in the same run which is fabulous.

 

One step at a time hey

 

I think maybe I will start putting the newbies in the cube at night in a few days.

 

Any thoughts my Omleteer friends

[cockadoodle1]

Looking forward to Intergration Diary 1 and Son of Intergration

Best regards Ridley Scott

[Space Chick]

Well they seem well integrated, there has been some mingling, particularly with Rose after the nest box bonding session (see other thread!).

 

They've had a good 5 hours free-ranging together in the garden, and I have just put them back in the run which I am very happy to keep fully open.

 

There has been the odd occasion of chasing, but its 99% harmony

 

I am still undecided on whether to force the issue of putting the newbies in the cube tonight?

 

Advice appreciated.

[Space Chick]

Well the decision has been made for me. Tonight all the girls new and old have gone to bed in the cube

 

I am soooo proud of my girls

[Chickvic]

That's fab news Deb!

[chick wiggle]

awww, thats so sweet. bless their little cottons, they're such clever girlies

[Scramble]

Yay

I love a happy ending

 

... bless their little cottons...

 

I'm going to have to remember that!